Brightwell MB 7

[jnc914]

So, I have been dosing this weekly for almost two months now and I am starting to observe some less than desirable changes to my tank. There has been an increase in brown slime algae throughout the tank. Has anyone else experienced this with the MB7? I have a bag of Vertex micro-pellets that I am now reluctant to use as I don't want any additional algae blooms.....

 

[mike_cmu04]

Try increasing the mb7 and lowering your vodka dosing.

 

[celebrityovernight]

I am using mb7 in conjunction with ecobak bio pellets. I am very satisfied with this method. I dose the mb7 directly into the pellet reaction chamber and this ensures that the bacteria have a place to colonize. I've seen the best colors i've seen in years from my corals.

 

[jnc914]

I am using mb7 in conjunction with ecobak bio pellets. I am very satisfied with this method. I dose the mb7 directly into the pellet reaction chamber and this ensures that the bacteria have a place to colonize. I've seen the best colors i've seen in years from my corals.

How often are you dosing it in conjuction with the bio pellets?

 

[Frick]

I have noticed the same issue with the MB7. I am using the Brightwell Katalyst along with it. It is more like a long diatom bloom. I think it has a lot to do with replacing the GFO with the Katalyst. I put some fresh GFO back in there, and it seem to help, but you are not suppose to keep them together.

 

[btkrausen]

I'm about a week into dosing this, and have seen some improvement in colors on many of my ORA SPS, such as red planet. I've been throwing around the idea of doing the exact same thing as above, using them in conjuction with pellets.

I have a decision to make soon, as the plan was to dose for two weeks and then start vodka. Still deciding....

 

[jnc914]

So the consensus is that a 2 week dosage schedule is necessary prior to either vodka dosing or use of bio-pellets. It also sounds like weekly use of this may be the cause of the brown slime/diatoms in the tank? Is it possible that the MB7 is potent enough to cause almost a mini cycle, even though my tank has been up and running for 9 months? I have read extensively about bio-pellets and how there is often an initial cyano or diatom bloom. I am worried that with the use of the MB7 in conjunction with the introduction of bio-pellets will cause a brown algae explosion in the tank. I guess I have alot to think about before going forward with the bio-pellets.

 

[btkrausen]

Not sure if its necessarily a requirement, but it was suggested by SunnyX on here and another forum. I personally wanted to see the effects of MicroBater7 before I started any carbon dosing, and have had only positive things to say.

As for brown algae, I've heard that some algae will actually compete with the beneficial bacteria (that you want) for the carbon source when you start dosing, causing it to grow faster. I can't give much insight to the bio pellets as I haven't tried them, nor have I tried any carbon dosing, but have been reading ALOT on it as its going to be my next project.

 

[celebrityovernight]

How often are you dosing it in conjuction with the bio pellets?

I dose the recommended dosage for medium nutrient tanks once every week.

I feel that if you have been using gfo, you will see an increase in p04 and n03 levels if you stop abruptly and move to pellets. Reason being is there is no/little time for bacteria to colonize on the pellets. Over the course of a month, I had to increase the flow through the pellet reactor dramatically due to the bacteria.

I feel that it is absolutely necessary to use mb7 with some type of carbon dosing. Some of the bacteria strains in the mb7 will need a carbon source in order to utilize the p04 and n03 in your tanks. With that being said, I feel the bio pellets route is the best way to go about this carbon dosing due to the ease. You do have to increase the flow rate as the bacteria start to colonize, but it does not require daily doses like vodka, vsv, vit c, or the other carbon dosing methods.

You can use the mb7 alone, but i don't feel you will get the full benefit of the product.